Edmunds Extension Educator: See you later

By DALE CURTIS Extension Educator/Agonomy Edmunds County IPSWICH - This will be the last "Up to Snuff with Curtis," the one I've been waiting for, as the saying goes. Last Friday was my last day as the County Agent or Educator. I have seen a number of my co-workers reach this stage of their career and I'm starting to understand why they had this wonderful smile and seemed in a good mood most of the time. In my 28 years I have done 1,400 plus news articles, at least 1,000 radio reports, and have been on TV more than I wanted to. I'd hate to guess how many meetings I've attended or conducted, but I do know that I did somewhere around 100 Private Applicator Training sessions. I've weighed somewhere between 12,000 and 15,000 4-H pigs at the SD State Fair and have seen close to 900 Edmunds County kids enjoy 4-H here at home. I have made many farm calls, walked many acres and answered many phone calls, hoping to provide the correct answer to area farmers and ranchers with concerns about their operations. Yes, I remember some tough times. Seems like anyone who lives in South Dakota has to put up with drought. We've had too many in my book and this most recent one seems to be hanging on. Hopefully relief is on the way. We've had blizzards which took our livestock. The one in April after a record snowfall year was one of the toughest in my memory. That was one I would like to forget. I just found some pictures last week of some of the dead livestock. We had livestock in Ipswich after that storm which came from many miles north. The spring cleanup and mud that year were also something to deal with. Wet, yes I guess we had some wet years also. The sloughs have been flooded and the crops planted late on less acres but it seems like we always got something in those years. What I will remember most of my Extension career is the people. I have had the good fortune to work with some very good people. Crop and livestock producers who took part in our programs or volunteered to let us use their facility have been great. 4-H volunteers and families who helped us work with the kids have no idea how much they meant not only to us but also to the kids they helped. The people who served on the boards to advise us and help with program determination have played a big role. The newspapers in the county and the area and the radio stations have been very important to us. The other agencies I have worked with and of course my co-workers statewide, in this district and of course here at home. Thanks to all for your help. To Judy Lapka, the best secretary I ever had, thank you for making me look good all these years. I plan to be around. I've got some catchin' up to do in several areas. With my wife staying behind to "hold down the fort," at least for a while, I'm sure I'll keep posted on all the happenings in Extension and 4-H. I wish you all the best. South Dakota State University, South Dakota counties and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating South Dakota State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer (Male/Female) and offers all benefits, services, education and employment opportunities without regard for ancestry, age, race, citizenship, color, creed, religion, gender, disability, national origin, sexual preference, or Vietnam Era veteran status.